11 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan together with antithymocyte globulin before a stem cell transplant works in treating patients with autoimmune neurologic disease that did not respond to previous therapy. In autoimmune neurological diseases, the patient's own immune system 'attacks' the nervous system which might include the brain/spinal cord and/or the peripheral nerves. Giving high-dose chemotherapy, including carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan, and antithymocyte globulin, before a stem cell transplant weakens the immune system and may help stop the immune system from 'attacking' a patient's nervous system. When the patient's own (autologous) stem cells are infused into the patient they help the bone marrow make red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets so the blood counts can improve.
This is a multi-center prospective rater-masked (blinded) randomized controlled trial of 156 participants, comparing the treatment strategy of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) to the treatment strategy of Best Available Therapy (BAT) for treatment-resistant relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Participants will be randomized at a 1 to 1 (1:1) ratio. All participants will be followed for 72 months after randomization (Day 0, Visit 0).
Our goal is the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and immunoablation by high-dose cyclophosphamide in multiple sclerosis (MS). The molecular pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis is poorly understood although T-cell mediated immune destruction of myelin is thought to be an important element. We hypothesize, and the results of previous studies suggest, that radical immuno-ablation characterized by a profound T cell depletion can arrest the progression of disease. Patients with MS with poor prognosis based on the rate of progression and refractoriness to approved treatments (interferon-beta, glatiramer acetate) will be enrolled in clinical trials at the collaborating institution (NWU-Dr. R. Burt; Dr. D Kerr, JHU) and will receive either immune ablation with cyclophosphamide and the antibody Campath-1 followed by reconstitution with autologous peripheral blood stem cells, a procedure similar to autologous bone marrow transplantation, or high-dose cyclophosphamide treatment without stem cell rescue. While the overall treatment-related mortality worldwide is approximately 10%, the collaborating institution and investigators have an outstanding safety record in performing the procedure with no fatal adverse events after having transplanted more than 30 transplants with a previously more aggressive regimen than the one that is in use now. The underlying rationale for this treatment is that immuno-ablation could eliminate myelin-reactive T cells which, in disease-susceptible individuals, may have been activated by previous exposure to environmental agents or other acquired mechanisms of immune dysregulation. In the proposed study we plan to address whether HSCT or immunoablation without stem cell rescue act beneficially in MS via the eradication of myelin-reactive T cells and reconstitution of a functional and non-autoimmune immune repertoire. To achieve this goal, we will compare peripheral blood T cell reactivities to myelin antigens before and after the treatment in 34 patients with MS. In parallel, to identify potential disease-mediating cells that do not recognize these myelin antigens, we will search for clonally expanded cells in the blood of MS patients before treatment employing molecular analysis of T cell receptor repertoire. Expanded T cell clones will be tracked during post-transplant follow-up of patients. If the eradication of certain clonotypes resulting from immuno-ablation correlates with disease remission, we will attempt to isolate these cells in culture from pre-treatment samples and determine their specificity using combinatorial peptide libraries. We would use the same approach in case of reappearance or new clonal expansions concomitant to disease relapses. We will combine these studies with a broader, unbiased approach that employs microarray technology to identify potential changes in gene expression profiles. This approach may also lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for pharmacological treatment.
This study is designed to compare two non-myeloablative conditioning regimens (combination of chemotherapy and immune specific proteins against immune cells) for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The two conditioning regimens are the most commonly used world wide in clinical practice for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The first investigational conditioning regimen is cyclophosphamide (chemotherapy) and rATG (rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin, a protein against immune cells). The second investigational conditioning regimen includes the same dose of cyclophosphamide (chemotherapy) and rituximab (a protein against immune cells). Both cyclophosphamide and either rATG or rituximab are given to kill immune cells that are thought to be causing MS, followed by return of one's own previously collected blood stem cells (autologous stem cell transplant) to hasten recovery. The goal of this study is to assess the difference of these treatments in terms of toxicity and efficacy.
Randomized study of autologous un-manipulated peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) comparing two regimens: (1) cyclophosphamide and rabbit anti-thymoglobulin (rATG) versus (2) cyclophosphamide, rATG, and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg).
A subject was treated under compassionate use provisions under this study with facilitating cell therapy (FCRx) product manufactured using the CliniMACS (Miltenyi Biotec) device, rather than the Max Sep (Baxter) device.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the toxicity and the effectiveness of high dose chemotherapy with HPC transplant Multiple Sclerosis that has failed at least two lines of therapy
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), a serious disease in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. MS can be progressive and severe and lead to significant disability. The study treatment involves the use of high-dose chemotherapeutic drugs to suppress the immune system. The participant's own (autologous) blood-forming (hematopoietic, CD34+) stem cells are collected before the chemotherapy is given, and then transplanted back into the body following treatment. Transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells is required to prevent very prolonged periods of low blood cell counts after the high-dose chemotherapy.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that may be caused by the immune system reacting against the nervous system. It is possible, that by changing the immune system we can modify the progression of this disease. In this study, we will try to learn whether treatment with a bone marrow transplant (BMT) can help patients with multiple sclerosis. We will also try to learn what the side effects are of this treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the toxicity of total-body irradiation, anti-thymocyte globulin, and cyclophosphamide followed by syngeneic or autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation in patients with multiple sclerosis. II. Determine the disease response of patients treated with this regimen. III. Determine the safety and efficacy of filgrastim (G-CSF) for PBSC mobilization in this patient population.
The study is an investigator-run, open-label Phase 1 safety study of autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, involving approximately 24 ambulatory participants with relapsing forms of MS (approximately equal numbers with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive/ progressive relapsing MS) and evidence of involvement of the anterior afferent visual system.